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Retinyl palmitate supplementation by inhalation of an aerosol improves vitamin A status of preschool children in Gondar (Ethiopia)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Hans Biesalski ,
Ram Reifen ,
Peter Fürst  and
Melkie Edris
Hans Biesalski*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Ram Reifen
Affiliation:
School of Nutritional Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Peter Fürst
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Melkie Edris
Affiliation:
Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia
*
*Corresponding author: Professor Hans K. Biesalski, fax +49 711 459 3822, email biesal@uni-hohenheim.de
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Abstract

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We report successful vitamin A supplementation by inhalation of retinyl palmitate in a placebo-controlled pilot study in twenty-five preschool children (2–5 years of age) in the rural district of Gondar, Ethiopia. Preschool children (n 161) were randomly selected from 220 households. Out of this cohort, twenty-five children were randomly assigned to each of two treatment groups: one receiving retinyl palmitate by inhalation of two puffs of an aerosol containing 1 mg (3000 IU) per delivery to give a total of 2 mg (6000 IU); and the other receiving an aerosol without retinyl palmitate. Both treatments were administered every 2 weeks for 3 months. Serum retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations in the vitamin A-treated group were 0·68 (sd 0·31) μmol/l and 59·4 (sd 24·2) mg/l before and 1·43 (sd 0·46) μmol/l (P < 0·01) and 97·3 (sd 31·2) mg/l (P < 0·05) 3 months after supplementation with retinyl palmitate, suggesting that this novel method of delivery of retinyl palmitate by inhalation is effective in improving vitamin A status.

Keywords

Retinyl palmitateVitamin AXerophthalmia
Type
Short communication
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 179 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1999

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